Explain the effects of a character’s decision on the plot.DurationApproximately 2 Days (40-45 minutes for each class)Necessary Materials Lap top or iPad
Before the Lesson
Read Chapters 7-12
Activation & Motivation
Check out Dorothy's Fakebook which has information as too why she made some decisions in her travels and can give the students background knowledge.
I will explain that, character decisions impact the plot of a novel. The effects of these decisions ripple throughout the story and form its plot. Good readers pay careful attention to the decisions a character makes in a story and track the effects of those decisions to better understand the plot.
To examine the effects of characters’ decisions in The Wizard of Oz, I will first determine when an important decision has been made that will affect the rest of the story. Particularly in fantasy fiction, characters make significant decisions to embark on a journey or to take a particular path while on a journey. Also, characters in fantasy fiction are often faced with moral dilemmas in which they must choose a course of action. For example, characters in a fantasy sometimes face dilemmas between good or evil, one of the fantasy elements we discussed in the Genre Lesson. Next, I will list the direct effects of this decision and the direct effects of those effects, just like in our cause and effect game.
I will introduce my ThingLink which will have markers the students can scroll over for a different topic all having to do with the effects of a decision that was made.
I will model tracking and explaining the effects of Dorothy’s decision to rescue Toto during the cyclone. I will use textual information to explain what happened because of her decision to save her dog, rather than herself.
Think Check
Ask: "How can I analyze the impact of a character’s decision on the plot?" Students should answer that you should stop at an important decision and then list the direct effects of making that decision. Finally, you should continue to record the effects of those effects, linking each to its logical cause.
Guided Practice
After scrolling over another question, we will examine the effects of the Tin Man’s decision to save the mouse from the Wild Cat. We will link the direct effects of this choice from Chapter 9 through Chapter 10. First, we will write the character decision prompt on an index card and tape it to chart paper or the board: “The Tin Man decides to save the field mouse from the Wildcat.” Next, we will write effects on additional index cards and tape them next to or beneath their direct cause. We will stop at the end of Chapter 10. Note: See The Tin Man’s Decision: Cause and Effect Chart for an example chart. We will, in summary, explain how the Tin Man’s decision to help the mouse resulted in the group's arrival in The Emerald City.
Independent Practice
The students will list the effects of the groups’ decision to kill the Wicked Witch of the West or one of the other options. The students will summarize the effects of their decision in preparation to discuss it with the group.
Reflective Practice
We will come together to share the effects of the decision to kill the Wicked Witch of the West. We will discuss how the story might have been different if the characters made different decisions. Ask: "What if the Lion was too cowardly to pursue the Wicked Witch, for example?"
The Wizard of Oz
Explain the effects of a character’s decision on the plot.DurationApproximately 2 Days (40-45 minutes for each class)Necessary Materials Lap top or iPad
Read Chapters 7-12Before the Lesson
Check out Dorothy's Fakebook which has information as too why she made some decisions in her travels and can give the students background knowledge.Activation & Motivation
- I will explain that, character decisions impact the plot of a novel. The effects of these decisions ripple throughout the story and form its plot. Good readers pay careful attention to the decisions a character makes in a story and track the effects of those decisions to better understand the plot.
- To examine the effects of characters’ decisions in The Wizard of Oz, I will first determine when an important decision has been made that will affect the rest of the story. Particularly in fantasy fiction, characters make significant decisions to embark on a journey or to take a particular path while on a journey. Also, characters in fantasy fiction are often faced with moral dilemmas in which they must choose a course of action. For example, characters in a fantasy sometimes face dilemmas between good or evil, one of the fantasy elements we discussed in the Genre Lesson. Next, I will list the direct effects of this decision and the direct effects of those effects, just like in our cause and effect game.
- I will introduce my ThingLink which will have markers the students can scroll over for a different topic all having to do with the effects of a decision that was made.
- https://www.thinglink.com/scene/845691272243970049
- I will model tracking and explaining the effects of Dorothy’s decision to rescue Toto during the cyclone. I will use textual information to explain what happened because of her decision to save her dog, rather than herself.
Ask: "How can I analyze the impact of a character’s decision on the plot?" Students should answer that you should stop at an important decision and then list the direct effects of making that decision. Finally, you should continue to record the effects of those effects, linking each to its logical cause.Think Check
After scrolling over another question, we will examine the effects of the Tin Man’s decision to save the mouse from the Wild Cat. We will link the direct effects of this choice from Chapter 9 through Chapter 10. First, we will write the character decision prompt on an index card and tape it to chart paper or the board: “The Tin Man decides to save the field mouse from the Wildcat.” Next, we will write effects on additional index cards and tape them next to or beneath their direct cause. We will stop at the end of Chapter 10. Note: See The Tin Man’s Decision: Cause and Effect Chart for an example chart. We will, in summary, explain how the Tin Man’s decision to help the mouse resulted in the group's arrival in The Emerald City.Guided Practice
The students will list the effects of the groups’ decision to kill the Wicked Witch of the West or one of the other options. The students will summarize the effects of their decision in preparation to discuss it with the group.Independent Practice
We will come together to share the effects of the decision to kill the Wicked Witch of the West. We will discuss how the story might have been different if the characters made different decisions. Ask: "What if the Lion was too cowardly to pursue the Wicked Witch, for example?"Reflective Practice